Playing games like Manhunt 2 'increases the risk that children and adults will behave aggressively'
Violent video games pose public health risk
/v3-uk/news/1985530/violent-video-games-pose-public-health-risk
29 Nov 2007, Iain Thomson , V3
A team at the University of Michigan claims to have found evidence that violent computer games can harm children.
The news comes just 24 hours after the British Board of Film Censors admitted that there is no evidence to suggest that violent computer games promote actual violence in those who play them.
University of Michigan researchers L. Rowell Huesmann and Brad Bushman analysed 50 years of studies, and concluded that violent computer games are a major public health threat as they raise the aggression levels of those who play them.
The analysis, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, claims that the problem is second only to lung cancer caused by smoking.
"Exposure to violent electronic media has a larger effect than all but one other well known threat to public health," Huesmann told Reuters.
"The only effect slightly larger than the effect of media violence on aggression is that of cigarette smoking on lung cancer.
"The research clearly shows that exposure to virtual violence increases the risk that children and adults will behave aggressively."
The research suggests that children who play violent video games and identify with the characters are much more likely to be more aggressive in social situations when older. The effect is the same for men and women.
Huesmann admitted that not all children are affected, but that controls are needed anyway.
The study was co-funded by the US Centre for Disease Control.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
Incredible
So this horrible disease (as it was co-funded by the "US Centre for Disease Control") is secone only to lung cancer from second hand smoke? How much do you want to bet that these people only studied their subjects brain activity During the gaming, and not after. Yes, when you play the game, you feel it strongly, you get in to it, adrinaline (spelling is off) flows. That does not mean that your little 14 year old is gonna go shoot the cat after playing Halo. No, this is statement made by a failing group of people who have already been proven wrong. Sorry, but Violent Video Games do not cause hightened violence in our children.
Posted by Diego, 29 Nov 2007
Stupidity
You're right, a 14-yr old child might not go shoot the cat after playing Halo, but violent video games have been proven, through scientific evidence, to increase the hostility of teens. These studies have been proven by the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association. If you want to make a fool of yourself by going against their scientific studies, be my guest. You might want to research a bit more before you make stupid comments.
Posted by Greg, 07 Dec 2007
trouble in the psychosphere
We are now aware that the neuroplastic brain develops as a consequence of experiences in the world.
Just as biological life emerges and evolves within a given "ecosphere" psychological life emerges within particular "psychospheres" The average person in the US sees two hundred thousand acts of violence and thirty five thousand homicides by the age of 18.
Game players are engaged in cognitive apprenticeships in violence. We will either take responsibility for psychospheres the minds of tomorrow are produce by, or we will succumb to the ever more toxic effects of psychopollution.
The data is now in and are conclusive. Its a choice for citizens, leaders and opinion makers in the media. It seems to me that this is the moral and ethical challenge in the media age.
Posted by Maureen O'Hara, 08 Dec 2007